Development and series production of vehicle access and authorization systems for the automotive industry
Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG
Velbert · Tychy · El Burgo de Osma · Tondela · Arad · Timisoara · Greeneville (TN) · Farmington Hills (MI) · Puebla · Atibaia · Shanghai · Yantai · Changchun · Gyeonggi-do · Tokyo · Tal. Khed PuneNew on Amplifa
Company Profile
Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst is a family business founded in Velbert in 1908 and has specialized in secure vehicle access and authorization systems for over 100 years. The portfolio includes remote keyless entry fobs, Phone-as-a-Key systems, door handle systems, rear access systems, locking sets, electronic steering locks, control units, roof antenna housings as well as Passive Entry technologies with UWB, BLE and NFC. The in-house manufacturing depth ranges from zinc die casting and injection molding to painting in vehicle color, surface treatment, friction and laser welding, to fully automated SMT assembly, encapsulation of electronic assemblies and the assembly of ready-to-install systems. Tools are manufactured in the company's own toolmaking shop; software and hardware development follow ASPICE and ISO 26262. Customers are automakers such as Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Porsche and Ford, as well as motorcycle and truck manufacturers. The company employs 6,600 staff at 17 locations worldwide with headquarters in Velbert.
- Site
- Velbert
- Processes
- Injection molding, Zinc die casting, Die casting, Painting in vehicle color, Surface treatment, Assembly of ready-to-install systems, SMT surface-mount technology (population of electronic circuit boards), Encapsulation of electronic assemblies
- Materials
- Various Plastics, Zinc Alloys, Iron Small Parts, Brass Small Parts, Iron/Small Parts, Brass
- Certificates
- ISO/SAE 21434, ISO 45001:2018, ISO 50001:2018, ISO 14001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, ISO 45001:2018 (Huf Romania S.R.L.), ISO 14001:2015 (Huf Romania S.R.L.), IATF 16949:2016 (Huf Romania S.R.L.), IATF 16949, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001
- Founded
- 1908
- Employees
- 6,600
- Industries
- Automotive industry (OEM original equipment), Motorcycles, Trucks, Car sharing and fleets (digital key management)
- 01
Engineering (hardware and software development according to ASPICE, ISO 26262)
- 02
Toolmaking and automation
- 03
Zinc die casting
- 04
Injection molding
- 05
Surface treatment and painting in vehicle color
- 06
SMT assembly and encapsulation of electronic assemblies
- 07
Friction and laser welding
- 08
Assembly of ready-to-install systems
- 09
Just-in-time delivery and OES/After Sales
Materials and Manufacturing Processes
Various Plastics
Injection molding of pre-products such as housings, door handles and roof antenna housings.
Zinc Alloys
Die casting of pre-products for mechatronic system components.
Iron/Small Parts
Historical and current production of locks and small parts made of iron.
Brass
Small parts, including for locking systems and cylinders.
Products and Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Injection moldingPlastics | – | – | – | – | various plastics |
| Zinc die castingCasting | – | – | – | – | zinc alloys |
| Die castingCasting | – | – | – | – | zinc alloys |
| Painting in vehicle colorSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Surface treatmentSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Assembly of ready-to-install systemsAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| SMT surface-mount technology (population of electronic circuit boards)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Encapsulation of electronic assembliesAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Friction weldingJoining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Laser weldingJoining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Tool manufacturing and automationEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Prototype manufacturing and testingEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Software and hardware development in accordance with ASPICEEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fully automated production of electronic componentsAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality and Certifications
Quality assurance is carried out in accordance with industry-wide automotive standards; software and hardware development fulfill ASPICE and ISO 26262. Certified, among others, to IATF 16949, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001 and ISO/SAE 21434 (cybersecurity).
| Evidence | Velbert | Arad |
|---|---|---|
| IATF 16949 | ||
| ISO 14001 | ||
| ISO 45001 | ||
| ISO 50001 | ||
| ISO/SAE 21434 |
Company History
- 1908
Founded by Ernst Hülsbeck and August Fürst in Velbert; production of locks, fittings as well as iron and brass goods.
- 1920
First locking system for Mercedes-Benz; entry into the automotive business.
- 1935
Own casting production launched; supplier to Ford Cologne.
- 1950
Resumption of deliveries to VW, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Opel after the war.
- 1975
Introduction of the double-sided milled locking system (magnetic key system).
- 1983
Foundation of Huf España (El Burgo de Osma).
- 1985
Huf Korea as the first plant outside Europe.
- 1989
World's first infrared remote key for the Mercedes SL (R129).
- 1997
First electronic steering lock in a vehicle.
- 1999
First Passive Entry/Start system (keyless access and start).
- 2005
Cumulative production of 500 million vehicle keys.
- 2011
First kick sensor in series production at Volkswagen and Audi.
- 2012
Start of supplying a premium manufacturer with roof antenna housings.
- 2014
Foundation of Huf Secure Mobile GmbH for digital key management (Phone as a Key, car sharing).
- 2024
Sodecia becomes a new shareholder and joins the Management Board.
- 2025
New management team with CFO Dr. Lars Placke; revenue approx. 1.1 billion €, 6,600 employees, 17 locations.